This year at South High School, the tardy pass system has changed.

Many students have mixed opinions about the new system; some love it, some hate it. The new system requires students who are late to their classrooms to wait in line to receive a printed paper pass before continuing.

Under the new system, students must report to a tardy station to receive their passes. Some students say this process slows them down even more. “It’s inconvenient because it makes you more late to class,” junior Jocelyn Jimenez said. “Instead of going straight to class, you have to wait in a line full of people. On a scale of one to five, on how stressed the system makes me, I give it an 10.” Other students shared their frustrations, saying the lines can be long and stressful. Junior Irma Peña said that “The new system is so bad; I hate it.” There’s way more kids in the hallway now, and it takes a lot of time.”

Some students, however, admit the system has pushed them to get to class quicker.

“It makes me want to go to class faster because I hate doing the tardy pass process,” Jimenez added, while other students shared they now “speed walk” to their classes to avoid waiting in line. Most students agree the system is easy to use overall, and they don’t experience problems using it.

Teachers and staff generally view the system as an improvement. Journalism teacher Deana Colon said that she thinks that “the system is great because it forces students to take tardies more seriously. There are a lot fewer students walking the halls, and I think it treats all students fairly.”

History teacher Jennifer Sudduth, who has been teaching for 15 years, agreed the system is more manageable than before. “Back then it was up to each individual teacher to track tardies on an Excel spreadsheet. This is much more consistent.” She also noted that it makes enforcing consequences easier, and it reduces confusion about whether a student is absent or late.

Teachers also noticed how the system has changed the flow of the classroom.

“It’s actually easier for me; I have fewer students coming in late, and when they do, I know exactly where they’ve been because they hand me the slip,” Colon explained. For teachers, the slips provide a clear record preventing any attendance mistakes. Justin Potts, dean of students, added that it helps teachers focus on teaching rather than stopping teaching to update attendance.

Still, some staff recognize that there could be improvements to the system. Sudduth suggested offering more incentives instead of just punishment. Others pointed out that crowded hallways and long lines are also issues that affect the ability for students to get to class on time.

Potts has been one of the main voices behind this change. He explained that “the goal is not to punish, but to keep students accountable and in class.” He also said that “we view this as an improvement from last year, but it’s only been a few weeks.”

Beyond just cutting down on tardies, Potts emphasized a bigger life lesson. “Teenagers don’t always appreciate the importance of punctuality, but when you get a job, it’s important to show up on time. Part of teaching is educating students why it matters and what message it sends when you’re late.”

He also stressed the importance of balancing the consequences with recognition. “We’re trying to make sure we recognize those who do a good job. This week we sent out an email to all students who had perfect attendance to reward them with a Positive Packer ticket.”

For now, the system is still new. Students and Staff are adjusting. For some, it’s helpful; for others, it’s an obstacle. Love it or hate it, the paper slips probably aren’t going anywhere. So for now, the best option is just to get to class on time.